Tigers sign Hunter!

[wockenfussy]

Tigers To Sign Torii Hunter: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

[PuNk42AE]

*I posted this in the giant offseason thread*
Even if Torii hit's at the low end of everyones guess (around .270) it's still a great pickup, just like ATH said with a clubhouse leader. It should really solidify the top of the lineup now too, which we never saw during this season.

1. CF Jackson
2. RF Hunter
3. 3B Cabrera
4. 1B Fielder
5. DH Martinez
6. SS Peralta
7. LF Dirks
8. C Avila
9. 2B Infante

[lesgoblu02]

2/26M

[John_Brian_K]

GREAT move IMO. 2 years 26 mil

[wockenfussy]

Love this for many reasons. Can't wait to pound the Twins in 2013 for payback for all the times....

[chasfh]

Well, he's ours for two years now. No use focusing on his warts now. Fingers crossed that he's everything we hope he will be.

[alwaysthrowheat]

Would have liked this deal for Beltran last offseason, but I think this is a decent deal for the Tigers.

[Biff Mayhem]

2/26M

I'm quite pleased with this move.

[ballmich]

Can I veto this deal?

[sinister porpoise]

$26m over 2 years for his age 37-38 seasons.

[slim pickens]

13 million is to much for Hunter.

[Commish]

I didn't realize his BABIP was the highest in the league last year. That's a little concerning.

[STLTiger69]

I didn't realize his BABIP was the highest in the league last year. That's a little concerning.

Where did Boesch, Raburn, Young and Berry end up on that list?

[tiger337]

I have reservations about Hunter's age, but he should be a substantial upgrade regardless. I'm not doing cartwheels over Hunter, but I am very happy about not seeing at bats wasted on the likes of Berry, Boesch.

[froggyvk]

lol

[4hzglory]

Where did Boesch, Raburn, Young and Berry end up on that list?

For only 2 years, with the defense he provides, even if he OPS's .750, I'm very happy with this deal. No big $ tied up for when Miggy or JV is a FA (like Hamilton would) and gives time for Garcia and Castellanos to not be rushed (assuming they aren't traded in the next year) $13 mil per is more than I would like to pay, but I don't see this contract preventing us from making any moves we would otherwise make.

[Biff Mayhem]

I am very happy about not seeing at bats wasted on the likes of Berry, Boesch.

Add Raburn and I'm in 100% agreement.

[alwaysthrowheat]

As long as the 13MM doesn't prohibit the tigers from signing other players, or using other money, I don't care that it's a 6-8MM overpay over the two years.

[4hzglory]

I have reservations about Hunter's age, but he should be a substantial upgrade regardless. I'm not doing cartwheels over Hunter, but I am very happy about not seeing at bats wasted on the likes of Berry, Boesch.

+1, not to mention not seeing Boesch or Young in the OF.

[irvink]

Very happy with this move. I didn't really see any corner OF candidate out there didn't have some significant downside.

With Hunter, we get a solid offensive player who should very capably fill that #2 spot in the lineup. He's still a smart baserunner and a strong defensive player. A pretty massive upgrade over Boesch/Berry/Avi.

The deal seems reasonable in years and in dollars.

Plus...

The Tigers get to keep their #1 draft pick in 2013, for the first time since 2009 and Jacob Turner.

This should also prevent them from trading the farm for Justin Upton, which I was never a big fan of. Not only do we get to keep Castellanos and Avi but they should now be able to develop in the minors at their own pace.

A week before Thanksgiving and the biggest offseason need is already taken care of.

[Vonlenska]

Very solid move. I've heard some concerns about his high BABIP, which are valid, but he's still going to OPS you over .750 with good defense, which in this offensive environment is very solid.

[MC24]

13 million is to much for Hunter.

He's coming off one of his better seasons so it wasn't going to come cheap. He should put up an OPS around 780-800, plays pretty good defense and brings things to the clubhouse and team that can't be measured with statistics. Signing him to a 2 year deal and paying little more per is better than strapping yourself to 4-5 years of someone like Swisher or BJ Upton imo.

[4hzglory]

He's coming off one of his better seasons so it wasn't going to come cheap. He should put up an OPS around 780-800, plays pretty good defense and brings things to the clubhouse and team that can't be measured with statistics. Signing him to a 2 year deal and paying little more per is better than strapping yourself to 4-5 years of someone like Swisher or BJ Upton imo.

The only FA OF I thought may fit as well as Hunter is Cabrera for likely 1 yr and he would definitely be a gamble and bring the opposite of what Hunter does in the clubhouse. I definitely didn't want Swisher for 3-5 years.

[John_Brian_K]

$26m over 2 years for his age 37-38 seasons.

13 million is to much for Hunter.

Career .800 OPS that plays REALLY good defense, and is historically known as a GREAT club house guy. 13 mil a year is a STEAL IMO.

[Eric Cioe]

Nice deal. I'd probably bat him sixth with Dirks second, but that's just me. It doesn't really matter.

That sure solidifies the lineup pretty well. Helps the defense too. Hopefully this means they are unconditionally dunzo with giving Boesch playing time. Berry can pinch run and fill in. Works out well.

It does seem slightly high on dollars but they're only under it for two years, and it's not much of an overpay.

[Biff Mayhem]

If you'd like to gauge the merits of this acquisition from a different set of eyes, look no further than what fans of the Tigers closest division rivals in 2012 are saying:

Torii Hunter agrees to a 2-year deal with the Tigers - White Sox Interactive Forums

[theroundsquare]

Its of minor significance, but to repeat my thought from the offseason thread, I wonder if he buys jersey #48 from Porcello.

[alwaysthrowheat]

Its of minor significance, but to repeat my thought from the offseason thread, I wonder if he buys jersey #48 from Porcello.

Interesting.

[tiger337]

Tigers fWAR in 2012:

2B -1.5
RF -2.0
DH -0.8

Their new guys can easily do the following without even having great seasons:

Infante +2
Hunter +3
Martinez +2

That's 11 additional wins right there.

[irvink]

I don't see this as an overpay at all.

2/26 (the Beltran Deal) is what Hunter was looking for, and I'm guessing the Tigers were not the only team willing to give that to him. At the very least, I'm guessing other teams were willing to come very close.

Hunter wanted to play for a team with a legit chance at the World Series and he chose the Tigers. This would seem inconceivable only a few years ago when we had to blow everyone out of the water to bring in Pudge and Magglio.

[slim pickens]

Career .800 OPS that plays REALLY good defense, and is historically known as a GREAT club house guy. 13 mil a year is a STEAL IMO.

I like Hunter, and glad the Tigers got him.....but 13 mil a year is not a steal.

[irvink]

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale
The #Tigers fell in love with Hunter and gave $26 million before anyone could get seriously involved #Angels #mlb

DKnobler ‏@DKnobler
Torii told Tigers, "This won't take long." As one Tigers guy said, "He kept his word."

Jerry Crasnick ‏@jcrasnick
"He's probably not gonna hit .313 again,'' said an NL exec. "But he's a leader and a winner. It's tough to find leaders now.''

[Verlander MVP 2011]

I like Hunter, and glad the Tigers got him.....but 13 mil a year is not a steal.

It's only a 2 year contract. I don't really view the $$ as that big of deal, especially considering our owner's willingness to spend.

[KleShreen]

Why are people worried about the money? Clearly it isn't an object for Illitch, so why should we be worried? I think he's more than proved over the last handful of years that he will pay whatever it takes to get the guys he wants.

[irvink]

Again -- pretty cool to have an in demand player want Detroit.

DKnobler ‏@DKnobler
It turned out Torii chose Tigers as much as they chose him. Told other teams he wasn't interested in talking unless Tigers didn't work out.

Also, Torii set up Tuesday visit to Detroit himself. Told Tigers he wanted to come up. Obviously, they were happy to see him.

[slim pickens]

Why are people worried about the money? Clearly it isn't an object for Illitch, so why should we be worried? I think he's more than proved over the last handful of years that he will pay whatever it takes to get the guys he wants.

because this could handcuff them from filling other needs

[MC24]

because this could handcuff them from filling other needs

Just like the Fielder signing did...

[alwaysthrowheat]

because this could handcuff them from filling other needs

There's no way of knowing that.

[4hzglory]

because this could handcuff them from filling other needs

A 2 yr deal isn't going to handcuff them from filling other needs. If it was for 3 or 4 I could see it, but this isn't going to make a difference in filling any need.

[STLTiger69]

I do think $13M is a bit high, but from what I hear Hunter had other options (Atlanta wanted him pretty badly too and I heard Texas was also interested) so a bit of an overpay for 2 years and the Tigers don't have to give up any prospects is fine in my book...